Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Thailand
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. In this comparison, we explore the distinct traffic practices in El Salvador and Thailand. From lane usage to speed limits, discover how these two nations diverge in their driving customs, with significant implications for travelers navigating their roads.
Lanes
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Thailand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
thailand:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
el salvador:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days